Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncatha 2335’

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of  Catharanthus  plant having vigorous, upright plant habit, abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed from the base of the plant throughout the growing season and great profusion of double, bright red purple flowers.

Botanical designation: Catharanthus roseus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Suncatha 2335’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plant, which is hereinafter referred to by the name of ‘Suncatha 2335’.

Catharanthus roseus, which is also known as Vinca rosea, is a very popular plant that is used for flower bedding and potting in the summer and autumn season.

The purpose of this invention is to obtain a new Catharanthus cultivar having vigorous, upright plant characteristics, abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed from the base of the plant throughout the growing season and great profusion of double, bright red purple flowers, the entire bush remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time.

The new Catharanthus plant was originated from a cross-pollination of the female parent ‘S22-P-5’ and the male parent ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’. The female parent ‘S22-P-5’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncatha 2335’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having pale pink petals, and the male parent ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ used in the crossing of ‘Suncatha 2335’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having red single petals, which was applied for Japanese plant variety protection (the application number: 25152; the application date: 2010 Aug. 31; the registration number: 21647; the registration date: 2012 Mar. 19). The cross-pollination was conducted in Sep. 10, 2010 at Yame-gun, Fukuoka, Japan.

In February 2012, the seedlings obtained by the crossing were planted in field, and some seedlings were selected in view of growth habit, flower size and color thereof. In August 2012, the stem tip culturing was carried out, and then the propagation was started.

In July 2013, the cultivation of the seedlings was repeated. The botanical characteristics of that plant were then examined, using similar varieties ‘Daiichi-S23-25’ and ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ for comparison. As a result, it was concluded that this Catharanthus plant is distinguishable from any other variety, whose existence is currently known, and is uniform and stable in its characteristics.

The new variety of Catharanthus roseus plant is named ‘Suncatha 2335’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new variety is unlike any Catharanthus plants commercially available as evidenced by the following unique combinations of characteristics.

-   -   1. Vigorous, upright plant characteristics.     -   2. Abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed         from the base of the plant throughout the growing season.     -   3. Great profusion of double, bright red purple flowers, the         entire bush remaining in bloom for a considerable period of         time.

The new variety ‘Suncatha 2335’ differs from the similar variety ‘Daiichi-S23-25’, which was applied for Japanese plant variety protection (the application number: 27372; the application date: Sep. 3, 2012; the registration number 23254; the registration date: Mar. 12, 2014), in the following points.

-   -   1. The main color of surface of corolla lobe of ‘Suncatha 2335’         is bright red purple (RHS N66C). That of ‘Daiichi-S23-25’ is         PURPLE-VIOLET (RHS near N80A).

The new variety ‘Suncatha 2335’ differs from the similar variety ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’, which was applied for Japanese plant variety protection (the application number: 25152; the application date: 2010 Aug. 31; the registration number 21647; the registration date: Mar. 19, 2012), in the following points.

-   -   1. The main color of surface of corolla lobe of ‘Suncatha 2335’         is bright red purple (RHS N66C). That of ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ is         white (RHS NN155C).     -   2. The leaf size (L×W) of ‘Suncatha 2335’ is 49 mm×23 mm. That         of ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ is 45 mm×28 mm.     -   3. The petiole length of ‘Suncatha 2335’ is 10.5 mm. That of         ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ is 7.0 mm.

This new variety of Catharanthus plant ‘Suncatha 2335’ was asexially reproduced by the use of cuttings at Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, and homogeneity and stability thereof were confirmed. The instant plant retains its distinctive characteristics and produces true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The depicted plants had been reproduced by the use of cuttings and were photographed during October 2013 while growing outdoors in wall pots with about 15 cm of container size at an age of approximately 6 months.

The second sheet is a photograph of a typical plant of the new variety of Catharanthus plant ‘Suncatha 2335’ while growing in a pot.

The first sheet is a photograph of a close view of flowers of the new variety of Catharanthus plant ‘Suncatha 2335’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In October 2013, the cultivation of the seedlings was repeated at Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The average day temperature was about 25° C., and the average night temperature was about 15° C. The plants were grown under natural sunlight. The number of days to flowering (response time) was about 3 to 4 weeks. The keeping quality was about 180 days. The plants had temperature resistance to about 5° C. (the lowest temperature) and about 35 to 40° C. (the highest temperature). Further, the plants had the same tolerance to pests and pathogens as a typical Catharanthus plant.

For the parentage information: The female parent ‘S22-P-5’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncatha 2335’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having pale pink petals, and the male parent ‘Daiichi-SIR22-16’ used in the crossing of ‘Suncatha 2335’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having red single petals, which was applied for Japanese plant variety protection (the application number: 25152; the application date: Aug. 31, 2010; the registration number: 21647; the registration date: Mar. 19, 2012).

For the propagation information: the new cultivar was propagated by cutting; the number of days to initiate roots during the summer was about two weeks; approximate soil and/or air temperature during the summer was around 30° C.; the number of days to initiate roots during the winter was about three weeks; approximate soil and/or air temperature during the winter was around 25° C.; the number of days to produce a rooted young plant during the summer was about five weeks; the number of days to produce a rooted young plant during the winter was about six weeks; root density was moderate; root branching was free; root color was white; and root texture was fibrous.

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncatha 2335’ at an age of approximately 4 months are shown in the following Table. In the following description, the color-coding is in accordance with the Horticultural Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England (R.H.S. Colour Chart The 5th edition 2007).

PLANT VARIETY DESCRIPTION APPLICATION VARIETY CHARACTERISTIC Suncatha 2335 ANNUAL, BIENNIAL or PERENNIAL? Grown as annual TYPE OF PLANT: i.e., TREE, SHRUB, Potted plant SUBSHRUB, VINE, CUT FLOWER, POTTED PLANT APPROPRIATE CONTAINERS +/or Ideal for pots, CROPPING SYSTEM hanging baskets. GROWTH HABIT Upright PLANT HEIGHT About 22.0 cm PLANT DIAMETER OR AREA OF SPREAD About 25.0 cm PLANT VIGOR Vigorous BRANCHING HABIT Freely branching BASAL BRANCHING? Present PINCHING REQUIRED? Not required. NUMBER OF LATERAL BRANCHES About 7 NUMBER OF SECONDARY LATERAL About 2 BRANCHES LATERAL BRANCH LENGTH About 20.5 cm LATERAL BRANCH DIAMETER About 4.3 mm INTERNODE LENGTH About 22.5 mm STEM ASPECT Upright to outward RHS Near 142C STEM COLOR (and bark color, if Upper: with anthocyanin applicable) pigmentation colored 182B STEM COLOR (if any) RHS Near 182B STEM PUBESCENCE Present, few OTHER PLANT/STEM CHARICTERISTICS — LEAF ARRANGEMENT Opposite COMPOUND OR SIMPLE? Simple QUANTITY OF LEAVES PER LATERAL About 12 BRANCH LEAF (LEAFLET) SHAPE Narrow elliptic LEAF (LEAFLET) TIP Acute LEAF (LEAFLET) BASE Obtuse LEAF LENGTH About 49.1 mm LEAF WIDTH About 23.0 mm LEAF THICKNESS About 0.3 mm LEAF (LEAFLET) TEXTURE Pubescent, both sides LEAF PUBESCENCE? Present LEAF (LEAFLET) MARGIN Entire VENATION PATTERN Reticulate venation LEAF COLOR, YOUNG, UPPER SIDE RHS Near 137A LEAF COLOR, YOUNG, UNDER SIDE RHS Near 137D LEAF COLOR, MATURE, UPPER SIDE RHS Near141B~143B LEAF COLOR, MATURE, UNDER SIDE RHS Near N137C VENATION COLOR, UPPER SIDE RHS Near 137C VENATION COLOR, UNDER SIDE RHS Near 142D VARIEGATION? Absent PETIOLE? Present PETIOLE LENGTH About 10.5 mm PETIOLE DIAMETER About 3.3 mm PETIOLE TEXTURE Pubescent PETIOLE COLOR RHS Near 182A OTHER FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS — FLOWER ARRANGEMENT Borne in upper leaf axils. INFLORESCENCE TYPE OR FORM (if Solitary applicable) QUANTITY OF FLOWERS PER PLANT About 40 FLOWER TYPE or FORM Double FLOWERING HABIT Continuously NATURAL FLOWERING SEASON Early summer to late autumn TIME TO FLOWER OR RESPONSE TIME About 2~3 weeks FRAGRANCE Absent FLOWER BUD LENGTH About 38.9 mm FLOWER BUD DIAMETER About 6.9 mm FLOWER BUD SHAPE Clavate FLOWER BUD COLOR RHS Naer 65D FLOWER ASPECT; i.e., UPRIGHT, Upright OUTWARD, DROOPING, etc. FLOWER PARACOROLLA Present FLOWER DIAMETER About 43.4 mm FLOWER DEPTH (HEIGHT) About 43.6 mm FLOWER LONGEVITY ON PLANT About 2~3 days PERSISTENT OR SELF-CLEANING? Not persistent. PETAL TEXTURE, UPPER SURFACE Smooth PETAL TEXTURE, LOWER SURFACE Smooth TUBE TEXTURE Smooth, pubescent PETAL ARRANGEMENT Free PETAL NUMBER 10, Double PETALS FUSED? Fused PETAL SHAPE Outside: Oblanceolate Inside: Obtrullate PETAL MARGIN Absent or very weak ASYMMETRY OR SYMMETRY Outside: Asymmetry Inside: Symmetry PETAL TIP Mucronate PETAL BASE Fused PETAL LENGTH Outside: about 24.9 mm Inside: about 20.1 mm PETAL WIDTH Outside: about 16.5 mm Inside: about 10.0 mm NUMBER OF PETAL COLOR, UPPER SIDE 1 (EXCEPT FLOWER EYE) PETAL COLOR , WHEN OPENING, RHS Near N57C UPPERSIDE PETAL COLOR , WHEN OPENING, RHS Near 65C LOWERSIDE PETAL COLOR, FULLY OPENED, RHS Near N66C UPPERSIDE PETAL COLOR, FULLY OPENED, Petal tip: RHS Near 65A~ LOWERSIDE 65C FLOWER EYE Present FlOWER EYE DIAMETER About 4.0 mm FlOWER EYE COLOR RHS Near 60B RECEPTACLE Absent RECEPTACLE COLOR — TUBE DIAMETER About 1.7 mm TUBE LENGTH About 25.1 mm THROAT COLOR(inside) RHS Near 145B~145D TUBE COLOR(outside) RHS Near 145A~145B Base: with anthocyanin pigmentation colored 181C SEPAL ARRANGEMENT Single whorl NUMBER OF SEPALS 5 SEPAL SHAPE Linear-triangular SEPAL MARGIN Entire SEPAL TIP Acute SEPAL BASE Fused SEPAL LENGTH About 2.9 mm SEPAL WIDTH About 0.9 mm SEPAL COLOR,IMMATURE, UPPER SIDE RHS Near 144B SEPAL COLOR,IMMATURE, UNDER SIDE RHS Near 144B SEPAL COLOR,MATURE, UPPER SIDE RHS Near 144B SEPAL COLOR,MATURE, UNDER SIDE RHS Near 144B CALYX SHAPE Star shape CALYX LENGTH About 3.8 mm CALYX DIAMETER About 4.8 mm PEDUNCLE LENGTH About 3.4 mm PEDUNCLE DIAMETER About 1.8 mm PEDUNCLE ANGLE Upright, slanting above PEDUNCLE TEXTURE Smooth PEDUNCLE COLOR RHS Near 144B STAMEN NUMBER 5 STAMEN LENGTH About 3.1 mm ANTHER SHAPE Narrow elliptic ANTHER SIZE (L) About 2.9 mm ANTHER SIZE (W) About 1.2 mm ANTHER COLOR RHS Near 8C AMOUNT OF POLLEN Few POLLEN COLOR RHS Near 8D PISTIL NUMBER 1 PISTIL LENGTH About 20.8 mm STIGMA SHAPE Transversely ellipsoidal STIGMA COLOR RHS Near 145A STYLE COLOR RHS Near 145C OVARY COLOR RHS Near 145B OTHER FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS — QUANTITY OF SEEDS Seeds production has not been observed. ROOT STRUCTURES such as BULBS, Fibrous root CORMS or RHIZOMES? LOW TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE Around 5° C. HIGH TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE Around 35° C.~40° C. DISEASE RESISTANCE AND/OR Normal SUSCEPTIBILITY RESISTANCE OF PESTS AND/OR Normal SUSCEPTIBILITY

This new variety of Catharanthus plant having the above botanical characteristics is suitable for flower bedding and potting, particularly in hanging pots or planters. 

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncatha 2335’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 